Ancient World

image

Five ancient crocodile ancestors, two previously unknown, have been uncovered in the Sahara by a National Geographic researcher and his team. The most imposing, BoarCroc, was 20 feet long with triple fangs and likely could have taken down a dinosaur.

November 19, 2009
image

Fossils of five "oddball" crocodilian ancestors found in the Sahara suggest that the bizarre beasts ruled the southern landmass of Gondwana about a hundred million years ago, paleontologists say.

November 19, 2009
image

A "saber-toothed cat in armor" and a pancake-shaped predator are among five strange, dinosaur-era crocodile cousins discovered in the Sahara, archaeologists say. Meet BoarCroc, PancakeCroc, DuckCroc, RatCroc, and DogCroc.

November 19, 2009
image

Human bones, colorful murals, and illuminated manuscripts are just some of the treasures found in caves carved into steep cliffs in a remote corner of Nepal—and the sacred hoard could be linked to the real-world inspiration for the fictional paradise Shangri-La, experts say.

November 17, 2009
image

Ancient Tibetan art and manuscripts recovered from caves carved into sheer cliffs could be linked to the fictional paradise Shangri-La, says the team that made the discovery.

November 17, 2009
image

The "lounge lizard" lifestyle helped a prehistoric goat adjust its growth and metabolism during lean times—but its energy-saving methods may have spelled its ultimate doom, a new study says.

November 16, 2009
image

Maya murals complete with hieroglyphic captions are providing archaeologists with an unprecedented look at day-to-day life in the ancient empire, a new study says.

November 12, 2009
image

A new dinosaur has given scientists a glimpse into the evolution of sauropods, the biggest animals ever to have walked the Earth, a new study says.

November 11, 2009
image

A lot of people—some even reportedly contemplating suicide—are "genuinely frightened" the end of the world will arrive in 2012. Experts say books, Web sites, and marketing for 2012, the movie, may be fanning the flames.

November 9, 2009
image

Supposed Maya predictions of the end of the world in 2012 have some people seriously scared. See what experts say about the unknown planet predicted to pummel Earth, the cataclysmic "galactic alignment," and more.

November 6, 2009
image

Several graves dating as far back as the early Stone Age--complete with dog-tooth jewelry and even a sitting woman--have been discovered during extensive digs in central Germany, archaeologists say.

November 5, 2009
image

In time for Halloween, archaeologists have unearthed a witch bottle—a stone jug that may have contained toenails, hair, and other bodily bits to deter witches and other evildoers.

October 29, 2009
image

A far cry from the Twilight vampires, naughty nurses, and Spider-Men of 2009, the first Halloween costumes included animal skins and heads, drag getups, and even mechanical horse heads, historians say.

Updated October 29, 2009
image

Remarkably well-preserved pines that lived around Viking times have been discovered near a fjord in southwestern Norway, scientists say.

October 28, 2009
image

Though small enough to fit in your hand, a prehistoric animal has been long been seen as proof that apes and humans arose in Africa. But a new study says the creature wasn't an ape ancestor, after all—though it may be a red herring.

October 27, 2009

ADVERTISEMENT

 
NEWS FEEDS     After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.   After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

National Geographic Daily News To-Go

Listen to your favorite National Geographic news daily, anytime, anywhere from your mobile phone. No wires or syncing. Download Stitcher free today.